Witte de With is excited to unfurl her 2013 program with Tulkus 1880 to 2018, a mastodontic artwork and work in progress by Paola Pivi, based on an extensive international research.

Aimed at creating a complete collection of portraits and basic information on all the tulkus of the world–who in Tibetan Buddhism are the recognized reincarnations of previous Buddhist masters*–from the beginning of photography until today, from all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, and from all the areas of the world where this religion is practiced, this growing survey has until now collected over 1100 photographic portraits.

Manifesting in a stunning array of forms, from high production color prints to inexpensive photocopied reproductions, and in scales ranging from pocket-size to large format, these images are the same ones commonly treasured in monasteries, hung in private households or shops, or collected by the faithful. These photographs are considered holy by the believers.

Executed in collaboration with hundreds of tulkus, individuals and institutions around the world, Pivi’s research will continue to grow and be displayed through 2018 in various venues, up to a total of 10 exhibitions, after which it will be donated to the Tibetan people. The direction of the research itself has been delegated to Tibetan individuals, under the supervision of Tibetan historian Tashi Tsering, Director of Amnye Institute, Tibetan Centre for Advanced Studies, Dharamshala, India. The entire project/artwork Tulkus 1880 to 2018 is non proﬁt.

Tulkus 1880 to 2018 uncharacteristically lays bare these objects of speciﬁc veneration within the conﬁnes of a religiously plural, and often secular art institution–an institution that conversely is not known for presenting nominally sacred objects to its audience, and is itself enshrined within a long history of aesthetic discourses that attempt to establish a ‘visual neutrality’.

Witte de With Director Defne Ayas calls the exhibition “a major undertaking of key historical value” and adds: “As Witte de With, we are tremendously proud to be a partner to this important project, for which Paola Pivi went beyond and above, and collaborated with spiritual leaders, scholars, researchers, and photographers, as well as with special archives. It is indeed a treat to experience it.”

With sincere thanks to the hundreds of people and institutions who have made this project possible, and special thanks to the Private Office Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

Tulkus 1880 to 2018 is curated by Davide Trapezi and co-commissioned by Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art and Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art. Special thanks go to all the sponsors who have supported this project from its inception onwards: Artissima, Turin; Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Milan and London, Galerie Perrotin, Hong Kong /Paris, Photographic Laboratory Grieger, Düsseldorf, and generous contributions of anonymous donors.

* In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is the recognized reincarnation of a previous Buddhist master (a highly realized teacher or lama, e.g. H.H. the Dalai Lama or H.H. Karmapa) who is able to choose the manner of their rebirth and can often reveal the place of their next birth by means of cryptic clues. Tulkus are collectively revered for holding the lineages of oral transmission of all of the Buddha’s teachings, which have been handed down through many generations. Most often they are referred to as Rinpoche or ‘precious one’.